The students who really struggle to write well think it’s great. Those who do well on written work are less enthused. In my limited experience, marks drift to the middle on oral assessments and so maybe it is harder to put one’s learning on full display.

They are. That way the 2nd marker and external examiner can do due diligence.

One that I’ve been trying out is an Assessed Conversation. They are one on one. Students have 5 minutes to respond to a pre-selected prompt that they have done some research on (eg Should an Augustinian understanding of original sin be maintained). The next 15-20 minutes is a back and forth.